Baltimore Blast v. Milwaukee Wave Game Preview
January 31, 2019 - Major Arena Soccer League (MASL)
Baltimore Blast News Release
Baltimore Blast vs. Milwaukee Wave
Saturday, February 2nd @ UW-Milwaukee Panther Arena 2:05 p.m EST
You can watch the game on MASLTV at: https://www.maslsoccer.com/masltv
Baltimore Blast: 7-3
First place in the Eastern Division.
Milwaukee Wave: 9-2
First place in the South Central Division.
All-time Series: Milwaukee leads 52-38
Baltimore Players to Watch:
The Blast are aiming to bounce back after last Saturday's loss to rival Harrisburg Heat. Forward Vini Dantas claimed the MASL Player of the Week award for his Week 8 performance versus Harrisburg and Mississauga, but missed last week's game. In the last three games he has played, he's scored eight goals. Dantas also leads all Blast players in points per game with an average of 1.9. Midfielder Tony Donatelli has proven to be a dangerous asset to the Blast his entire career, and this season is no different. Donatelli has twelve points accumulated in eight games. Donatelli will also look upon midfielders Daniel Oliveira and Mohamed N'diaye for offensive support.
Elton de Oliveira put in a great shift last time out against Harrisburg, leading the Blast in goals and points scored with two goals and one assist for a total of three points. De Oliveira filled in perfectly for Blast defender Adriano Dos Santos, who missed the game versus Harrisburg with an injury. Forward Jon Orlando has been a consistent point scoring threat with ten points on the season through nine games. Blast goalkeeper William Vanzela has consistently proven himself among the elite goalkeepers in the MASL this year, ranking fifth in goals allowed average (4.55) and fifth in save percentage (.710) so far this season.
The Blast will be without Lucas Roque and Daniel Peruzzi as they recover from their knee injuries. Blast midfielder Jonatas Melo will miss this game due to a red card suspension. The Blast are coached by Head Coach Danny Kelly and Assistant Coach David Bascome.
The Competition - Milwaukee Wave
Milwaukee will look to enact revenge on the reigning champions after their playoff exit in the semifinals at the hands of the Blast last season. Last weekend, the Wave defeated the Mississauga Metrostars 7-5. Forward Ian Bennett, who is tied for third in the MASL with sixteen goals scored, added another two goals against the Metrostars. Forward Max Ferdinand rounds out a forward partnership with Bennett that has combined for a total of thirty-seven points on the season. Midfielder Alex Bradley recorded a hat-trick against the Metrostars and will look to replicate that performance against the Eastern Division leading Blast.
Marco Leite leads all Wave defenders in points scored this season with fourteen, eleven of which have come off of assists. The Wave have a staggering seven players that have recorded over ten points so far this season. Milwaukee also leads the league in Goals For per game with 7.9. Goalkeeper Josh Lemos ranks sixth in the MASL in Goals Allowed Average (4.88) and seventh in save percentage (.679). The Wave are coached by Head Coach Guiliano Oliviero and Marcelo Fontana.
Upcoming Games:
February 8th 7:30 p.m. EST Baltimore Blast vs. Utica City FC
February 10th 3:00 p.m. EST Baltimore Blast vs. Harrisburg Heat
February 15th 7:35 p.m. EST Baltimore Blast at Mississauga Metrostars
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